A Brief Journey through 4th Gen Prelude History.....

[RedRacer]

4th Generation History.....

1992

Fourth generation Prelude introduced to the USofA during Autumn, 1991. Three variations were sold: the S, Si, and Si with 4WS. The S's engine has 135 horsepower, both Si versions make 160.

Car and Driver didn't seemed too thrilled with the new Preludes in the initial test report, but still gave the Prelude Si (2WS version only) a Ten Best medal.

1993

The Si-VTEC, with its 190 hp, is finally introduced to American lineup (Japan could get the VTEC in their Preludes with the 92 models).
93 alone gets a different radiator and fan design for no specific reason.
Prelude gets another C/D Ten Best medal.

1994

A bunch of revisions were made to Preludes this model year:
Front turn signal lamps now clear/orange instead of all orange.
Lighter, directional, nine spoke alloy wheels (~15 lbs) replace the Si and VTEC seven spoke wheels (~17 lbs).
Inside, Si's and VTEC's gets Lexus-like electro-luminescent displays
With the "luminescent" interior, comes a lit up "auto" driver's side power window switch which the earlier ones didn't have
A revised center console with an inconvenient cupholder. The parking brake handle now looks like an afterthought ("Oh crap, I think we forgot something...").
Big lump in the middle of the back seat has disappeared
Dual airbags now standard.
A/C now standard on S models
Honda-made Prelude spoilers now have LED third stop light (VTEC's no longer have a **CHMSL on the back windscreen, using the spoiler instead. To save costs, all the Preludes shared this spoiler).
The "Si-VTEC" is now just called "VTEC".
VTEC gets leather seating and a subwoofer as standard equipment.
Prelude VTEC receives yet another C/D Ten Best medal.

1995

Prelude Si with 4WS gets axed.
Halfway through model year, SE (for "Special Edition") trim level introduced. Basically an Si with a make-over: it came with a rear spoiler, 5-spoke alloy wheels, leather seating, and a "Special Edition" badge. It came in your choice of dark green or champagne color.
Yep, Prelude VTEC gets a C/D Ten Best medal.

1996

Prelude models now with OBD II (grrr), but probably didn't work--there was a recall and Honda was fined big time.
Speculation runs amuck regarding the replacement Prelude.
Colors, although virtually the same, get renamed.
Brock Yates, a C/D Editor-at-Large, likes the 96 Prelude VTEC (June, 1996).
Speaking of C/D, surprise! Prelude VTEC gets a Ten Best medal.


** Center High Mounted Stop Lamp

[si speed]

In 1994, the vents beside the headlights came with 2 bars instead of one.

[RedRacer]

In 1994, the vents beside the headlights came with 2 bars instead of one.

Correct, they did change the nostrils from one slat to two. And now all the "cool dudes" want the one slat version. It's the way they left the JDM cars, and we all know that ANTYHING added JDM gives the car at least 20 additional horsepower....even if it's windshield washer fluid..!


Where are ya, Evan, Crazy 93? The JDM King....